India says missile fired to Pakistan was ‘accidental’
New Delhi/Islamabad, Mar 11 (EFE).- India acknowledged Friday the “accidental” firing of a missile into Pakistani airspace that led to Islamabad lodging a protest through diplomatic channels earlier during the day.
India’s official Press Information Bureau released a statement saying that on Mar. 9, a “technical malfunction” led to the “accidental firing” of a missile during a routine maintenance activity.
It added that the government has taken the matter seriously and ordered a high-level inquiry into the incident.
“It is learnt that the missile landed in an area of Pakistan. While the incident is deeply regrettable, it is also a matter of relief that there has been no loss of life due to the accident,” the statement said.
Earlier Friday, Pakistan summoned the Indian envoy in Islamabad to register a protest against an “unprovoked violation” of its airspace by an Indian origin “super-sonic flying object.”
The Pakistan foreign office statement described the incident as an “irresponsible incident” that reflected India’s “disregard for air safety and callousness towards regional peace and stability.”
The Foreign Office said the Indian Charge d’Affaires was conveyed that the “imprudent launch” of the flying object not only caused damage to civilian property but also put at risk human lives on the ground.
“The flight path of the flying object endangered several domestic/international flights within Pakistani airspace and could have resulted in a serious aviation accident as well as civilian casualties,” it said.
Moreover, Pakistan urged India to share the outcome of the enquiry into the incident.
On Thursday, the Pakistan military had announced that an unarmed “supersonic missile” from India entered Pakistani airspace and fell in the southern Punjab region, causing some damage to the vicinity, but without human casualties.
Meanwhile, Pakistan on Friday formally inducted six China-made J-10C fighter aircraft in its Air Force fleet during a ceremony at the Kamra Air Base which was attended by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
In an address, Khan thanked China for providing the jets to Pakistan in a “record time of eight months.”
“I am glad that our armed forces have a futuristic and forward-looking approach because technology is going to be a great tool for future warfare,” the PM said in a live televised address.
He congratulated the nation on the historic occasion of the induction of J-10C aircraft, a medium weight, single-engine fighter jet.
He further said that Pakistan would spend more on its defense as its wealth increased with time.
Many analysts in the country believe the acquisition of J-10C aircraft is in response to India’s purchase of Rafale fighter jets from France.
According to state-run wire service APP, The J10-C can be equipped with bigger active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar than the one used by the JF-17 Block 3. The aircraft can carry more advanced, fourth-generation air-to-air missiles including the short-range PL-10 and the beyond-visual-range PL-15. EFE
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